Cristiano Ronaldo Brace Leads Real Madrid Past PSG in UCL 1st Leg

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 first-leg tie on Wednesday, giving his team the advantage for the second leg in France.

Adrien Rabiot gave the visitors the lead, but Ronaldo tied things up from the penalty spot, bagging his 100th UEFA Champions League goal for Los Blancos. He scored again inside the final 10 minutes, and Marcelo gave Los Blancos some breathing room with a third goal.

Here’s a look at the teams:

Real Madrid C.F.🇺🇸🇬🇧 @realmadriden

📋 Tonight’s starting XI! VAMOS!!! #APorLa13 https://t.co/dhY5jLDCZz

2018-2-14 18:31:15

PSG English @PSG_English

LINEUP CONFIRMED: Here is PSG’s Starting XI to take on @realmadriden 💪

#RCMPSG #AllezParis

#RaceToTheStars https://t.co/cushkf8R0B

2018-2-14 18:55:15

Los Blancos started well, forcing an early corner with pressure and appealing for a penalty after Toni Kroos took a tumble in the box after a challenge from Yuri Berchiche. Replays showed it was a blatant dive from the German.

Kroos had a shot turned away by Alphonse Areola shortly after, before play was halted when Neymar went down with a knock. Marcelo and Dani Alves collided as well, leaving the former in a lot of pain.

Real remained on the front foot, but chances were rare. Ronaldo powered a free-kick over the bar, and Areola used his face to deny the Portugal international after a quick counter, per ESPN FC’s Jonathan Johnson:

The stopper also denied Sergio Ramos, easily saving his header, while at the other end of the pitch, Keylor Navas failed to do the same. Rabiot finished off a fine team move, and the Real Madrid goalkeeper was already falling away from the ball when he pulled the trigger.

Football writer Dermot Corrigan did not approve of Real’s defensive effort:

Dermot Corrigan @dermotmcorrigan

1-0 PSG – Rabiot smashes home unmarked, after Madrid opened up very easily. Yikes.

2018-2-14 20:18:19

There was a slight skirmish soon after, with both sides pushing and shoving following a foul from Ramos on Kylian Mbappe. Ronaldo had a chance on the other end of the pitch, but once again, he couldn’t keep his shot on target.

Casemiro produced a fine block on Edinson Cavani, preventing a second goal, and Benzema went very close, with Areola pulling off a great save. The Frenchman’s bid for a clean sheet came undone when Giovani Lo Celso pulled down Kroos inside the box, however, and Ronaldo converted the penalty.

He made history in the process:

B/R Football @brfootball

Cristiano Ronaldo—the first player to score 100 Champions League goals for a single club 👑 https://t.co/SSrxExttG0

2018-2-14 20:29:58

Navas made the first important save of the second half, keeping out Mbappe after a quick move through Lo Celso and Neymar, and Ramos made a strong block on Rabiot. Alves claimed the defender used his hand, and replays showed Les Parisiens perhaps should have been awarded a penalty.

Ronaldo blasted a free-kick into the wall, and Neymar nailed the referee, forcing a stoppage as he received treatment:

Mirror Football @MirrorFootball

Neymar has just pinged the ball at the referee’s face so hard he’s stopped the game.

https://t.co/5KhYjoL6Mv

2018-2-14 21:13:13

Ramos saved his team twice in quick succession with some heroics, blocking an effort from Mbappe before producing an even better intervention to deny Presnel Kimpembe a certain goal.

Yuri’s cross was almost turned in by Alves and Mbappe, who both came up just short, and Kimpembe did well to stop Gareth Bale from getting on the end of a cross.

Just as PSG seemed likely to regain the lead, Ronaldo struck again, converting a rebound after Areola punched the ball back into the box. There was some controversy surrounding the goal, as Kimpembe was clearly fouled in the buildup.

PSG fell apart completely in the final minutes, and Marcelo would add to the lead shortly after, with his strike taking a deflection and sneaking past Areola.

Football writer Andrew Gibney had some advice for PSG:

Andrew Gibney 🤬🦄 @Gibney_A

Little note to the #psg owners. You don’t need more attackers. That will not solve all your problems.